TRANSPAC Committee Meeting Summary Minutes
MEETING DATE: May 12, 2022
MEMBERS PRESENT: Loella Haskew, Walnut Creek (Chair); Peter Cloven, Clayton (Vice Chair); Sue Noack, Pleasant Hill; Tim
McGallian, Concord; Mark Ross, Martinez; Karen
Mitchoff, Contra Costa County
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Bob Pickett, Concord; John Mercurio, Concord; Diana Vavrek, Pleasant Hill
STAFF PRESENT: Andy Smith, Walnut Creek; Saravana Suthanthira, Concord; John Cunningham, Contra Costa County;
Philip Ho, Pleasant Hill; Melody Reebs, County
Connection; Matt Todd, TRANSPAC Managing
Director; and Tiffany Gephart, TRANSPAC Clerk
GUESTS/PRESENTERS: Matt Kelly, CCTA; Ryan McClain, Fehr & Peers; Jeff Matheson, Golden Rain Foundation/Rossmoor;
Tara Cantu, Choice in Aging; Debbie Toth, Choice
in Aging; Elaine Welch, Mobility Matters
MINUTES PREPARED BY: Tiffany Gephart
1. Convene Regular Meeting / Pledge of Allegiance / Self-Introductions Chair Haskew called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Introductions followed.
2. Report on Open Session
Chair Haskew noted that items discussed in closed session included the Executive Director evaluation and work plan and that no actions were taken.
3. Convene Regular Meeting/Self-Introductions
4. Public Comments
There were no comments from the public.
5. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of the April 14, 2022 Meeting
On motion by Commissioner Mitchoff seconded by Commissioner McGallian to approve the minutes by unanimous vote of the members present (Haskew, Cloven, Mitchoff, Noack, Ross, McGallian).
6. DRAFT MONUMENT BOULEVARD I-680 BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Matt Todd introduced the item and discussed the background of the Monument corridor project and past Board actions. Supervisor Noack commented that she is happy with the outcome of the study.
On motion by Commissioner Noack seconded by Commissioner Cloven to approve the Draft Monument Boulevard /I-680 Bicycle Pedestrian Improvements Feasibility Study by unanimous vote of the members present (Haskew, Cloven, Mitchoff, Noack, Ross, McGallian).
7. DRAFT WORK PLAN AND BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2022/2023
Mr. Todd provided an overview of the workplan for FY 2022/2023. Commissioner Noack commented on the school item on the work plan. She noted that the five Mayors impacted by MDUSD met along with school officials and have made some progress. Commissioner Noack further commented that she has worked alongside Commissioner McGallian and would like to continue the conversations. Commissioner Noack further noted that The Secretary of Transportation has requested additional information based on her discussions and that she introduced the CCCTA Assistant GM, Bill Churchill, and CCTA Director, Tim Haile to the MDUSD Superintendent and their head of Transportation.
Commissioner McGallian asked about Innovate 680 and if that should be included in the workplan since the committee is involved. Mr. Todd commented that it is a good idea.
Commissioner Ross agreed that Innovate 680 is very important and should be included in the workplan.
Commissioner Ross raised the topic regarding the paving consortium between the city of Martinez and Clayton and noted better staff coordination is needed. Commissioner Ross further noted a need to increase multi-family charging stations as more secondary electric vehicles come available on the market and charging stations demand increaes, he noted equity concerns as there may be limited access in certain communities potentially.
Commissioner Noack commented that discussion needs to happen around how transportation will handle the addition of homes in Central County in response to increased housing requirements and how to help the cities address the questions.
Mr. Todd provided an overview of the budget for FY 2022/2023.
There were no comments from the Board on the draft budget.
Mr. Todd noted that he would update the workplan with additional comments and carry the item forward to the next TAC and Board meetings for further review and final approval in June.
8. MEASURE J LINE 20A FUNDS PROGRAM - FY 2022-2023 DRAFT PROGRAM.
Mr. Todd provided an overview of the Line 20a program applicant information and draft fund program recommendations summarized in the Agenda Packet.
Commissioner Mitchoff commented that she would like to hear public comments prior to Board comment.
Commissioner Noack clarified if the Board should consider adding additional Measure J revenue based on the adjusted fund estimate in addition to the contingency amount of $116,000. Mr.
Todd commented that increased revenue (from Measure J and Line 20a cost savings) is not included in the fund estimate. Mr. Todd asked if the Board would like to use $116,000 of reserve now that there is increased funding from Measure J.
Jeff Matheson thanked the Board for ongoing support of their program. Mr. Matheson commented on the funding recommendation and noted that difference of 12% funding (65% vs 77%) based on service to Equity Priority Communities. Mr. Matheson noted that there are many other factors that can be used to compare the service such as history of providing the service, the number of rides estimated to be provided, the number of unique individuals served, matching funding provided by the agency, percentage of funds going towards administration or overhead, cost per service hour and per ride, purpose of the ride and the impact of County Connection and LINK. He noted that the TAC focused on one sole factor, Equity Priority, and expressed concern that service to Equity Priority Communities is undefined.
He asked what criteria is used to determine if a program services an equity priority community.
Mr. Matheson asked that the Board consider other criteria and requested further consideration of the formula.
Commissioner Haskew and Mr. Matheson noted that there is diversity within the Rossmoor community from many standpoints including income, racial diversity, etc.
Debbie Toth thanked the Board and staff for all their efforts on the program. Ms. Toth noted her involvement in the creation of the sales tax and specifically the language that definesthe Line 20a program and noted that the language was crafted to support the people above and beyond ADA with door through door service. Ms. Toth noted that one of the criteria for selection is whether or not the program is ongoing. Ms. Toth noted that equity is not the only criteria to be considered and noted that the criteria should not be upheld at the expense of long-standing programs. Ms. Toth further commented that her program did not receive the expected amount of 5310 funding this year and commented that a reduction would cause the program to cease service. For these reasons, Ms. Toth requested that her program be fully funded.
Elaine Welch agreed with Ms. Toth’s comments and noted her concern for ongoing programs losing funding. Ms. Welch noted that the intent of Line 20a was not to reduce programs that were successful and necessary at the expense of new programs.
Commissioner Mitchoff expressed concern about funding new programs if existing programs cannot continue to provide services. Commissioner Mitchoff further asked how the programs are funded based on local match. Commissioner Mitchoff noted that some agencies have larger or smaller budgets and would like to see the percentage of the grant and overall budget. Mr.
Todd referenced the local match data included in the packet. Mr. Todd further noted that that staff can more explicitly call-out that information.
Commissioner Mitchoff asked if the material in the packet includes how long programs have been funded by Line 20a. Mr. Todd noted that it does not and commented on his knowledge of each programs funding history. Commissioner Mitchoff requested that staff return with the revised budget with the reserve amount added and data on the length of participation in the Line 20a program, percentage of funding compared to overall budget and local match, and demographics on the Rossmoor population.
Commissioner McGallian commented that there is a duplication of efforts and in some cases agencies are serving the same population. Commissioner McGallian commented that he would be happy to see the GoGo Concord Senior Transportation Program rolled into another program if it is meeting the need and provided additional comments about agencies combining efforts in general. Commissioner McGallian expressed concern about tapping into the TRANSPAC reserves.
Mr. Cunningham commented that he was helping to lead the implementation of the Active Transportation Strategic Plan (ATSP). Mr. Cunningham affirmed Commissioner McGallian’s comment on coordination per the ATSP and noted that this is the way of the future.
Ms. Welch commented that Mobility Matters is the only non-profit volunteer driver program that covers all of Contra Costa County. Ms. Welch agreed that she would want to coordinate with other agencies that enter the network. She reaffirmed that there is still a concern about removing funding from existing programs that are unique.
Ms. Toth commented that Choice in Aging has made extensive effort to coordinate including participation on the Senior Mobility Action Council, ATSP, Measure X, and annual meetings with other agencies to coordinate services ahead of 5310 applications for example. Ms. Toth further commented that priority needs to be considered for existing programs, and the funding should be for small, local agencies and non-profits that provide services for seniors and people with disabilities. Ms. Toth also commented that she has advocated with Caltrans to divert funding into senior and disabled transportation, but it will not happen overnight.
Commissioner Noack asked that the Board look more closely at the length of funding and other factors as opposed to a cut across the board. Commissioner Ross agreed with comments from Commissioner Noack that the Board needs to look at the programs more extensively such as the communities being served and to define Equity Priority Communities.
Commissioner Haskew asked if legally the Board needs to approve the fund program in June and options if additional time is needed. Mr. Todd commented that the fund program does not have to be approved in June, but it is helpful to do so in that it provides budget certainty for the applicants.
Commissioner Noack asked the Board to decide on whether to add the reserve funding to the Line 20a program budget.
On a motion by Commissioner Noack, seconded by commissioner Mitchoff to add $116,000 in reserve funding to the Measure J Line 20a program for FY 2022/2023 and FY 2023/2024, and to direct TRANSPAC staff and TAC to bring back revised allocation scenarios to the June Board meeting by unanimous vote of the members present (Haskew, Cloven, Mitchoff, Noack, Ross, McGallian).
10. TRANSPAC CCTA REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS.
Chair Haskew commented that the CCTA Planning Committee meeting was canceled.
Commissioner Noack commented that the APC meeting consisted of an in-depth legislative update which included the possibility of a Mega federal grant that CCTA could apply for. There was an approval of funds for a transit signal priority coordination system for Concord and Walnut Creek.
11. TAC ORAL REPORTS BY JURISDICTION
No member comments.
12. BOARDMEMBER COMMENTS
No member comments.
13. MANAGING DIRECTOR’S REPORT
No comments.
14. ADJOURN / NEXT MEETING The meeting adjourned at 10:47 A.M. The next meeting is scheduled for June 9, 2022 at 9:00 A.M.